Derek pulled his knife from Matt’s belly, a triumphant grin on his face as Matt dropped to his knees on the ground. He didn’t notice that Matt’s men had begun to back away and was instead distracted by the sight of a man that wasn’t one of his own pulling Maya back into the woods.
Matt stood up quickly, startling Derek. An iridescent glow was coming from Matt’s eyes and Derek then noticed that Matt’s people were running as fast as they could in the other direction. Before Derek could even react, Matt held his arms out wide and brought his hands together in a deafening clap.
Derek felt the whoosh of air and the feeling of being weightless as his body flew through the air. A sickening thud accompanied him as he slammed into the large trunk of a nearby pine tree. Similar noises were heard all around him as any men within Matt’s range had gone flying through the air, slamming into various items in their way.
Maya and Dennis were knocked off their feet and to the ground, Dennis padded the fall for Maya and Cade with a grunt. Cade screamed in fear and Dennis quickly helped them up, grabbed Maya’s hand and told her to run. She ran with him, still dazed and not sure what had really happened. They ran behind where her house used to stand and out to the road, running along the gravel until they reached one of the hummers and some of Matt’s men. While Matt’s men gathered her and Cade and whisked them into one of the hummers, she scanned her yard, taking in the debris that used to be her mountain cabin and the men strewn about with various injuries. She was startled when she slid into the backseat and Matt grabbed her, hugging her tightly. Sobs exploded from Maya as she recalled his injury and she pushed him away, clawing at his shirt in panic trying to see how bad his wound was. Wrenching his shirt up, she patted his stomach frantically trying to find his injury. Matt sat in silence until she began to calm down when she realized that he didn’t have a scratch on him. His shirt was cut and covered in blood but his skin was perfect. How was that possible? She looked up at him questioningly as she felt the hummer began to move. Startled she looked around frantically for Cade and was relieved when she saw Dennis in the front seat holding Cade on his lap, both staring at her. Buddy barked behind her and she jumped at the sound. Looking around slowly, she took in the sight of Buddy, Matt, Dennis and Cade, all in one piece, and all together. A man that she did not know yet was driving the hummer but his reassuring smile in the rear view mirror put her at ease.
Maya trained her eyes back on Matt. He sat watching her quietly, a small smile on his face. “How did you…” “How are you….” they both started talking at the same time and laughed.
“You first.” Matt said.
“How are you not dead??!!!” Maya blurted out, tears springing into her eyes for the millionth time that day.
“I guess I have some explaining to do and we have plenty of time to do that during the ride to the compound.” Matt replied.
“How did you know to get out of the cabin?” Matt asked in return.
Maya turned and looked at Buddy, reaching back and rubbing his head affectionately. “This fella warned me. Although at the time I thought he was just being annoying.”
Dennis smiled proudly. “As much as I would like to take credit for his behavior, that dog is all self-taught.” Everyone in the hummer laughed at his comment.
“Things are going to be a little different for a while Maya. We will rebuild your mountain cabin, but we have a new threat now with Derek and his men out there. He will likely continue to search for you and we have not yet determined how to handle him and his men.”
“You mean he’s not dead? But I saw him, he wasn’t moving when we left.” Maya replied.
“Knocked unconscious, yes, but not dead. None of his men were killed today, just injured and out of commission for a little while. It will give us some time to plan our next move.”
“Um, hey Matt?” Dennis said from the front seat. “Um, one of his men didn’t make it. I really couldn’t help it though, he came at me with his knife and I just reacted. And then Buddy kind of finished him off. So we’ll need to send someone to my place to um clean up” Dennis began to blush in embarrassment at that last admission and Matt laughed in surprise.
Turning to Buddy, Matt patted his head. “Well, we just might have to clone this dog now.”
Maya looked at Matt seriously, “Ok, enough small talk. Start explaining, I’ve waited long enough to find out what the heck is going on!”
Matt looked at her for a moment before answering, “Are you comfortable? Because this is going to take awhile!”
After Days Page 14